Persistent Reds land 2015 All-Star game for Cincinnati

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, left, talks with Cincinnati Reds president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati where Selig announced the Reds will host the 2015 All-Star Game. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

AP2013

CINCINNATI — The Reds and their fans started a countdown to a 2015 All-Star game on Wednesday by breaking out the bunting and bursting into a standing ovation.

Commissioner Bud Selig awarded the midsummer game to Cincinnati on Wednesday, rewarding years of persistence by Reds owner Bob Castellini. The city hasn't hosted an All-Star game since 1988, when the Reds played at Riverfront Stadium.

"I can't imagine what's going to happen, but I think it's going to be beautiful," said second baseman Brandon Phillips, a two-time All-Star under contract through 2017.

The Reds moved into Great American Ball Park in 2003. Castellini became controlling partner in the ownership group after the 2005 season and was determined to bring the game back to his home city.

It'll be played in New York this year, followed by Minneapolis in 2014.

"I'll say one thing for Bob: Man, he is persistent," Selig said. "I could use a couple other terms to describe him. One starts, 'A pain in ...' But tenacity is a great virtue."

The Reds brought business and community leaders, along with fans and members of the front office, to the announcement at the ballpark Wednesday.

Developments

Senators propose Musial bridge: Stan Musial already has a statue in St. Louis. If state and federal lawmakers get their way, a new Mississippi River bridge also will carry the name of the St. Louis Cardinals great.

Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, and Dick Durbin, of Illinois, proposed legislation Wednesday that would name the new bridge the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge — some already are dubbing it the "Stan Span." The bridge carrying Interstate 70 traffic is expected to open in 2014.

Musial, a three-time MVP and seven-time National League batting champion who spent all 22 seasons with the Cardinals, died Saturday after several years of declining health. He was 92.

On Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon urged fellow Democrat Pat Quinn, the governor of Illinois, to join him in a unified effort to name the bridge for Musial.

And two Missouri state senators — Republicans Eric Schmitt and John Lamping, both of St. Louis County — introduced identical bills Tuesday in Jefferson City to name the bridge for Musial.

Briefly: A source says the Arizona Diamondbacks and shortstop Chris Pennington have avoided an arbitration hearing by reaching a two-year, $5 million contract agreement. ... Outfielder Delmon Young has some incentive to lay off the desserts: He can earn $600,000 based on his weight this season. Young's $750,000, one-year contract with Philadelphia calls for him to get on a scale on six occasions to be chosen by the team. He'll receive $100,000 each time he makes weight.